Each expansion and powerful programming tools
PACs offer extensive built-in functionality, and they have a modular design that simplifies system changes and expansion, making it easy to add up to thousands of I/O points. By contrast, a typical PLC is designed to control much smaller systems, with high I/O counts often impractical, due to performance degradation.
Multiple PAC programming languages offer flexibility and easy scalability for larger systems. In particular, most PACs offer tag-based naming conventions. This means programming system changes in a PAC doesn't involve the complex re-engineering to make such changes in an average PLC.
With a PAC, a single tag-name database is shared across all development tools, thus requiring only one software package for programming. Each tag can consist of a descriptive English syntax name and can be assigned to specific functions before being tied to a particular I/O or memory address. This means variable names no longer must function as both a name and a description. Where previously names consisted of numbers or arcane expressions such as "bits(3).5," easy-to-understand terms such as "Tank 1 High Level" can be used instead.
Built-in capabilities reduce costs
Overall, PACs provide greater flexibility in programming, larger memory capacity, better interoperability, and more features and functions than a PLC -- all at less cost than a DCS. A PAC is also easier to implement than a DCS and more scalable for lower I/O count applications.
With an I/O capacity in the hundreds of thousands, extensive built-in memory, and powerful processing capability, a single PAC can be used to monitor and control large systems encompassing several areas of a plant or an entire facility.
In addition to monitoring and controlling large areas of a plant, a PAC reduces costs by simplifying the communication of data between the plant floor and higher-level computing applications and systems. The built-in communication capabilities of a PAC often negate the need to invest in middleware, extra gateways, and components, because the standard protocols and networking ports in a PAC make it easy to communicate with SQL databases, ERP systems, asset management systems, and enterprise-wide historians.
While this article provided some useful information about the power of Programmable Automation Controllers, the constant criticism of PLCs was abolutely out of place and totally unneeded. In addition, while they are more powerful it is very unlikely that any PAC is easier to program than the PLC devices that I have programmed, AB and Automation Direct.
So describing the capabilities of these packages is fine, and knowing that they can include a VS drive and other programmable motion controls is fine, but it is quite likely that the language will require quite a few hours to learn, if it is that much different from what I have used fr several years. So unless the language comes with a very good functions and applications manual there may be quite a few challenges. One more thing is that in those plants that don't have the budget for full time IT staffing, it was often common for a maintenance person to actually understand enough PLC programming to make those needed adjustments. That would probably be much harder with a new type of device running some "wonderful new language".
I'm amazed at the number of options and variations there are on machine controllers. Plus with all of the advanced communication and data handling needs in addition to the control functions, there is really a need for more sophisticated software solutions.
Mr. Bark, you are to be commended for writing a blog that is not a blatant advertisement for your company's products. You've provided a good description of PACs, compared them to PLCs, and not once mentioned your own company's name or product. Your blog informs without advertising, and that makes the company name under your byline stand out.
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